Cyber warfare starts to get personal in war between U.S., Israel and Iran

Iranian hackers linked to the country's intelligence services leaked stolen emails from FBI Director Kash Patel's personal Gmail account on Friday and claimed to have targeted Lockheed Martin employees with intimidation calls about their families and locations. The Handala Hack Team, which the U.S. government says operates under Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, has shifted toward psychological warfare aimed at individuals rather than just corporate networks, with Patel's stolen emails dating from 2010-2019 containing seemingly routine items like travel receipts and family photos. Even unverified or low-value data can force costly government investigations and drain resources—cybersecurity experts say the tactic doesn't require new breaches to be effective, as the same leaked material can be recycled and released repeatedly. The campaigns aim to erode trust, shape public perception, and potentially pressure U.S. and Israeli supporters to reconsider their backing if threats escalate. Security analysts are watching whether Handala releases more recent Patel emails or extends similar tactics to other officials and defense industry workers.